Manufacturers Seek U.S. Help in Deciding Where to Ship Scarce Medical Goods

To address coronavirus-related shortages, companies want the federal government to provide strategic guidance

What happens if New York hospitals run out of ventilators? State officials are considering different options to help in that grim scenario. WSJ’s Jason Bellini spoke to experts familiar with the discussions. Photo: Ronald Bon/DPA/Zuma Press

By

Rebecca Ballhaus

Andrew Restuccia

WASHINGTON—Producers and distributors of medical supplies across the country are raising red flags about what they say is a lack of guidance from the federal government about where to send their products, as hospitals compete for desperately needed masks and ventilators to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The issue is taking on greater urgency as supplies run short in hard-hit regions. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, for example, said the city could run out of supplies after a week, saying in a CNN interview...